Combined strap and protector for harness-buckles, &amp;c.



No. 871,557. PATENTBD NOV. 19, 1907.

W. E. BARBER. COMBINED STRAP AND PROTECTOR FOR HARNESS BUCKLES, 8w.

APPLICATION FILED SBPT,11, 1906.

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from wearing or ch WILLIAM E. BARBER, OF HOPE VALLEY, RHODE ISLAND.

COMBINED STRAP AND PROTECTOR FOR HARNESS-BUCKLES, 850.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 19, 1907.

Application filed September 11, 1906. Serial 'No. 334,144.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM E. BARBER, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Hope Valley, in the county of Washington and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improyements in a Combined Strap and Pro tector for Harness-Buckles, &c., of which the following is a specification.

- This invention relates to certain novel im rovements in protectorsor guards for buckles and straps, and it consists essentially of an attachable member having an end portion thereof arranged to be interposed between the buckle-bar and the huerle-strap, said end portion having an open ing therethrough to freely receive the buckle-tongue, all as hereinafter set forth and claimed.

The objectsought to be attained in the present invention is to provide a readily attachable device adapted in a measure to protect the buckle with which it may be combined and to prevent the buckle-bar from chafing or wearing away the adjacent part of the strap passing through and secured to the buckle.

While the device'is well adapted to be employed in various laces it is more particuarly serviceable or harness-buckles. For example, whenused in conjunction with the usual neck-strap, breast-plate, and the short strap connecting said parts the device forms not only a complete protector or uard for the buckle and the straps but it aIso serves as a safety device in that it prevents any liability of the buckle-carrying or supporting strap from bein accidentally detached from the, breastlate (usually one of the weak parts of a harness) and the consequent dropping of the latter. The device when in use also prevents the shafts of the vehicle afing the front or usually ex osed parts of the straps, &e., extending be ow the buckle.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings, Figure 1 represents a transverse section of a buckle and breast-plate of a harness, and also showing a portion of the neck-strap, the

buckle-carrying strap connecting the neckstrap with said buckle and breast-plate, and further showing the improved combined strap and protector device as in use. Fig. 2 is "a corresponding front elevation of said Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the protector. Figs. 4 and 5 are front and side at c, the breast-plate same time inserting the tongue t Views, illustrating a slight modification of the device, and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the attaching-ring.

It may be stated that the construction, arrangement combining in a harness the following named members are substantially as usual: the neck-strap, a portion of which is represented B, the buckle D, having the neck-strap attached thereto, and the short strap or connection h secured to the breast-plate and buckle. The metal ring or member g is or may be fastened to the breast-plate by stitching as usual. As drawn, however, its lower portion 9 is bent at right an les and extends through the front of the breast-plate to form a loop into which the improved device, about to be described, may be readily hooked.

The combined strap and protector device forming the subject of this invention embodies preferably a short leather tie or strap proper a, one end being provided with a metal clip'c and hook-shaped tongue 0, the latter when in use being hooked into the said loop of the ring g of the breast-plate. See Figs. 1 and 2. The other or upper end of strap a is provided with a thin metal clip I) having an elongated tongue bent to form a downwardly extending rear hook U. The free end portion of said latter hook has a transverse hole b therethrough to freely receive the tongue t of the buckle D. Said bent portion when in use extends partly round the top tie m of the buckle and downwardly therefrom between it and the adjacent or front surface of the neck-strap e, as indicated in Fig. 1.

In applying or attaching the improved rotector device the same,after the tongue t of the buckle is passed loosely through the neck-strapis placed at substantially right angles to the buckle and the free end of the.

hook portion 1) of the clip introduced between the buckle-bar m and strap 6, at the through hole I), the device is then swung downwardly followed by hooking the lower member 0 into the loop of the ring 9; the latter part of the operation being facilitated by temporarily flexing the strap h uniting the ring and buckle.

In lieu of constructing the device as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 the strap or body a may be extended, as at a, Figs. 4 and 5, and provided with an eyelcted hole a to receive and manner of connecting and the buckle-tongue. I prefer in most cases, however, to make the body part a of leather or other suitable material possessing a degree of flexibility, the attaching or end members to be made of metal.

While I have represented the invention as being employed in conjunction with a harness or with portions of a harness 'it is obvious that without departing from the spirit of the invention the device is well adapted for buckles and straps used for other purposes.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent 1. As an improved article of manufacture the herein described combined strap and buckle protector, the same consisting of a comparatively short flexible body portion having each end thereof terminating in a hook} shaped clip, one of which is perforated and adapted when in use to be interposed between the usual buckle-bar and the adjacent or front side of the strap from which the hueof September 1906.

kle is suspended and to receive in said perforation the tongue of the buckle.

2. The combined strap and buckle proteci tor herein described, the same comprising a short flexible body portion having its lower end adapted to be detaehably connected to one of the members of a harness, and having its upper part apertured and bent rear-i en in use said part is adapted to lie between the bar of a buckle wardly, so that wh and the adjacent face of the strap from which WILLIAM E. BARBER.

Witnesses:

GEo. H. REMINGTON, CALVIN H. BROWN. 

